KARACHI, June 25 A Japanese quarantine expert has arrived here to verify data on disinfestations of fruit fly on mango plants sent by the Plant Protection Department in a bid to get the ban on mango exports removed.

Mr Kenji Furusawa will verify the data compiled through a VHT apparatus in the laboratory over a period of three to four years and dispatched to the Japanese Quarantine Department to prove that the Pakistan has succeeded in vapour heat treatment of the fruit fly on mango.

Director General Plant Protection Department Dr Tasnim Ahmed told Dawn on Thursday that Japan had banned export of mango from Pakistan in 1999 declaring it infested with fruit fly.

On the request of the Japanese authorities the plant protection department had initiated an exercise to treat the fruit fly through VHT in its laboratory and results of the treatment process were regularly dispatched to the Japanese quarantine.

He said that the expert after verifying data on treatment of fruit fly would present a report to Japanese government which would amend rules to remove ban on mango exports from Pakistan.

Dr Tasnim expressed the hope that the ban on mango exports would be lifted by next season and the country would have access to the Japanese market.

After the expert sends a positive report to his government a modern VHT plant will be set up in Pakistan for treatment of fruit fly on mango trees before they are exported to Japan. The plant is likely to be manned by Japanese instructors.

Chairman All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters and Importers Association Abdul Wahid expressed the hope that fruit exports to Japan would get a big boost after the ban was lifted.

Mango exporter Khalid Ijaz told Dawn that Sindh exported 35,000 tons of the fruit to Europe, the Middle East and Far East in the current season. In addition to this about 15,000 tons were exported to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian states by road.

Exports from Punjab were now in full swing with Chaunsa variety. He hoped the country would achieve 125,000 tons export target thanks to increased production of the fruit in the Punjab this season.

Abdul Wahid complained about mis-declaration of weight of mango packs which were agreed between the exporters and the Customs. Some exporters in connivance with Customs staff sent shipment of less weight in packs of 2-kg and 4-kg to European destinations, which created a bad image of Pakistan. As a result Pakistani mango packs were sold only a little over £2 compared to Indian packs priced at £4-5.